OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of compound Danshen Dripping Pill (CDDP) on peripheral arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) in patients newly diagnosed as type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODSOne hundred and eight patients were equally randomized into 3 groups, in addition to the basic hypoglycemic, hypotensive and lipid-regulation treatment, they were administered orally with aspirin (0.1 g, once daily), vitamin E (0.1 g, twice daily) and CDDP (10 pills, thrice daily) for 18 months, respectively. The conventional cardiovascular risk factors, such as hyperglycemia, lipids profile, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as well as ultrasound measurement of peripheral arterial IMT before and after treatment were compared.

RESULTSIn the group treated with CDDP after treatment, the levels of HbA1c, serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly lower (all P<0.01), HOMA-IR was higher than those in the other two groups; while IMTs of carotid, iliac and femoral arteries were insignificantly different among them (P>0.05); however, the increment of carotid IMT in the CDDP treated group was less than that in the aspirin treated group (P<0.05), and that of femoral IMT was less than both the aspirin and vitamin E treated groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor the patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, additional administration of CDDP to the conventional treatment could exert beneficial effects on blood glucose controling, and lipid profile improvement and delay of arterial intima-media proliferation.